October 7, 1999
THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA CONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION, OCTOBER 7, 1999, AT 10:00 A.M., AT 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. PRESIDENT PARKER CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ON ROLL CALL THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT:
W.W. PARKER, PRESIDENT
LINDA WEST, VICE PRESIDENT
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
M. GENE HAYMON
JANE HOLTON
C.A. HUGHES
TED PARIS
KIM REESE
MARK SMITH
BETTY WESTERCHIL
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
PHILIP L. GUNN
LTC DAVE MCNEIL
ABSENT: WILLIS FARRIS, ILLNESS
BENARD MCKEE, ILLNESS
There was also present Richard Schwartz, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Kim Reese.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Smith.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of September 7, 1999.
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Philip Gunn, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee resignations.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to approve the attached list of sabbatical leave requests.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to approve the attached list of employee transfers.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of C.A. Hughes, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to approve the attached list of new employees.
ATTACHED
On recommendation of Superintendent Schwartz and on motion of Ted Paris, seconded by Kim Reese, the Board voted to suspend Mr. Charles Ford, custodian at Vernon Middle School, without pay until further notice.
Brenda Bealer expressed her thanks to all who attended the Head Start Policy Council training. She discussed new policies and presented a narrative on how the policy council and the school board work together. Included was the proposed Hiring and Firing of Staff Policy. The new policies will be presented for approval at the October 12, 1999 board meeting.
Jimmy Funderburk informed the Board that the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in regular session, August 26, 1999, granted for one year only, to waive current Board policy in Bulletin 1213 which states that all replacement school buses, at the time they are acquired by the owner, must be ten or fewer model years old for veteran owners/operators and five or fewer years old for newly hired owner/operators. The revision changed the mandatory age requirement of buses for new drivers to the same as veteran drivers which is ten or fewer years old. Additionally, buses twenty-five years or older must be removed from the route by September 1, 2000 unless the driver is within three years of retirement.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to increase the size of Kathy Richardson's bus from 60 to 72 passenger.
At this time, Sandie MacKnight, BESE candidate addressed the Board and shared her ideas for education in Louisiana. Some areas of interest to her are teacher training in discipline and classroom control, counseling, and public relations.
Tom Neubert discussed the Proposed Family Resource Manual presented at the September 7, 1999 board meeting, which puts families in touch with various resources available them.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to adopt the Family Resource Manual as its official guide for all Vernon Parish Schools.
On motion of Mark Smith, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to adopt the proposed Sexual Harassment Policy for Vernon Parish Schools as presented.
ATTACHMENT
B.R. Harvey reported that the Salary Committee had met at 9:00 a.m. preceding the board meeting and were presented a request for a pay raise from Kathy Jarrell, President of the Bus Drivers' Association, and other bus drivers.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Murphy O'Banion, the Board voted to take the request for a pay raise for bus drivers under advisement and to discuss the matter with the Finance Committee and to send a resolution requesting assistance for bus drivers to our legislators and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board realizes the importance of providing safe transportation for the students of this parish; and
WHEREAS, the school bus drivers have not had a permanent increase in their operation and maintenance expense since 1982;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution encouraging the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and our legislators to provide for an increase in bus owner's operation and maintenance to meet the ever increasing costs of operating and maintaining a school bus.
Mr. Harvey further reported that the Salary Committee had agreed to recommend to the Board that the salary of Mrs. Maria Casarez, secretary at the Optional School, be upgraded from a 10 month teacher's aide to a 10 month secretary.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by Philip Gunn, the Board voted to upgrade the salary of Mrs. Maria Casarez from 10 month teacher's aide to 10 month secretary.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board requested that a resolution expressing appreciation to the Cameron Telephone Company for its assistance to Pitkin School be adopted.
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board realize the importance of community support in their efforts to provide and maintain the educational standards and goals they desire for the students of our parish; and
WHEREAS, the Board wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Mr. Dennis Arnold and Mr. Jerry Deters of the Cameron Telephone Company for completely wiring Pitkin High School for the Internet at no cost to the school nor the Board;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board adopts this resolution of appreciation to the Cameron telephone Company and its employees and requests that a copy of this resolution be sent to Mr. Arnold and Mr. Deters.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to enter into executive session to receive a sales tax audit report. The time was recorded at 10:45 a.m.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to come out of executive session and resume order. The time was 11:25 a.m.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to receive bids on a used bus at Evans School.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by B.R. Harvey, the Board voted to take the matter of the Evans Bus under advisement since no bids were received.
In other business, Superintendent Schwartz announced that two Vernon Parish teachers have been named Regional Teachers of the Year. Mrs. Leslie Koenck, Vernon Middle School teacher was Regional Middle/Jr. High School Teacher of the Year, and Mrs. Faye Martin, Pickering Elementary, was named Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year.
On motion of Ted Paris, seconded by C.A. Hughes, the Board voted to go on record as opposing the West Leesville Forestry Festival operating on Sunday.
President Parker announced that the National School Boards conference will be held at Orlando, Florida in April, 2000.
On motion of A.C. Dowden, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board were deeply saddened by the recent death of Mr. Jim Kitts, of Leesville; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kitts was a retired administrator at Leesville High School and a strong supporter of this school system. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board takes this means to express its deepest sympathies to Mrs. Bobbi Kitts and Mrs. Lee Turner and their family and requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to them at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Linda West, on behalf of W.W. Parker and seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express their sympathies to the family of Mr. Horace Hyatt, of Anacoco, who recently passed away;
WHEREAS, Mr. Hyatt was the father of Mrs. Patsy Jett, retired secretary at Anacoco High School and he will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Jett and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Linda West, on behalf of W.W. Parker and seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. Mac Hyatt, of Hornbeck, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hyatt was the father of Mr. Michael Lynn Hyatt, bus operator at Hornbeck School. He was a beloved member of his community and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Michael Hyatt and his entire family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their sincere condolences to Mr. Michael Charrier, teacher at Simpson School, in the recent death of his grandfather, Mr. Irvin Monk, of Hicks, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Monk was a very active member of his community and a great supporter of this school system;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mr. Charrier and his family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Doris Dunn, of LaCamp, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Dunn was the mother of Mr. Gary Dunn, Vernon Parish School Board Maintenance Department employee, and the grandmother of Ms. Jessica Midkiff, teacher at Pitkin School. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mr. Dunn and Ms. Midkiff and their entire family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, THE Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere sympathies to the family of Mr. Arthur Cooley, of Pitkin, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cooley was the father of Mrs. Peggy J. Nolen, teacher's aide at Pitkin School, and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Mrs. Nolen and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Annie Parker, of Leesville, who recently passed away; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Parker was a longtime resident of the Leesville area and she will be sadly missed by her family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the members of the Board request that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Parker's family at this time of bereavement.
On motion of Murphy O'Banion, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Phoebe Clemons, office aide at Pickering Elementary School, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Denon Cupit, of Leesville, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cupit was a longtime and very active member of his community and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board requests that a copy of this memorial resolution be sent to Mrs. Clemons and her family at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Linda West, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following memorial resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the members of the Vernon Parish School Board wish to express their deepest sympathies to Dr. Beverly Blount, Educational Diagnostician at the Special Education Department, in the recent death of her father, Mr. Chester Smythe of Homer, Louisiana, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Smythe was a longtime resident of his community and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this memorial resolution and requests that a copy be sent to Dr. Blount at this time of sorrow.
On motion of Gene Haymon, seconded by Jane Holton, the Board voted to adopt a policy stating that any time a board member attends meetings on behalf of the Board that occur at the same time of a scheduled board meeting, the member will not be counted absent from the board meeting.
On motion of Betty Westerchil, seconded by the Board, the Board adopted the following resolution:
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the Vernon Parish School Board takes this means to express its sincere appreciation to General and Mrs. Samuel S. Thompson, III, for their outstanding support of this school system; and
WHEREAS, General and Mrs. Thompson have provided the quality leadership necessary for the excellent relationship with the Fort Polk community enjoyed by the school board, its administrators, teachers, staff and students of our school system;
WHEREAS, their attendance at the many functions of our schools and their assistance with numerous programs designed to enhance the education of our students have been a constant source of encouragement to all who are involved in the educational process in Vernon Parish.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board does, hereby, adopt this resolution of gratitude to General and Mrs. Samuel S. Thompson for their support and for their interest in our schools.
There being no further business, on motion of B.R. Harvey, seconded by the Board, the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
W.W. PARKER, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
RICHARD SCHWARTZ, SUPERINTENDENT